Alexandra is a female given name of Greek origin. It comes from the Greek word "alexein" which means to defend or protect, and "andros" meaning man. Therefore, the name Alexandra translates to "defending men" or "protecting mankind". It is a unisex name in some cultures, but it is most commonly used for females.
The name Alexandra has been popular throughout history. One of the most notable figures bearing this name was Queen Alexandra of Denmark, who married King Edward VII of the United Kingdom in 1863. She was a significant figure in British royal history and is remembered for her kindness, intelligence, and charm.
In literature, the name Alexandra has also been used prominently. It is the title character in both the novel "Alexandra" by Robin Waterfield and the play "Alexandre le Grand" by Jean Racine. Additionally, the name was popularized in the 19th century due to Alexander Pushkin's poem "Eugene Onegin", which features a character named Tatiana Alexandrovna.
Today, Alexandra remains a popular choice for parents naming their daughters. It has consistently ranked among the top 500 names for girls in the United States since the 1980s. The name is also widely recognized and appreciated across different cultures, making it a versatile and timeless option for parents seeking a meaningful and elegant name for their daughter.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Alexandra has seen varying levels of popularity among parents in the United States over the past century. The earliest data point available is from 1921, with a total of 5 births recorded that year.
The popularity of the name Alexandra started to rise in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with an increase from 8 births in 1969 to a peak of 13 births in 1980. This trend continued into the mid-1980s, with the name reaching its highest point of popularity between 1984 and 1987, with over 30 births recorded each year.
However, after 1987, the popularity of the name Alexandra began to decline. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the number of births with this name had dropped significantly, with fewer than 25 births recorded per year between 1996 and 2004.
Despite this decline in popularity, the name Alexandra has remained relatively stable in recent years. Between 2005 and 2021, the number of births with this name ranged from a low of 5 (in 2020 and 2021) to a high of 19 (in 2006). Overall, based on these statistics, it appears that while Alexandra was once a popular choice for parents in the United States, its popularity has since waned.